Not long have Phidelia settled down that the teacher sauntered into the classroom and lessons began. Rowan who didn't really buy the story of Phidelia tripping on the stairs kept stealing sceptical glances at her without her notice. Not to talk of her groaning and wincing uncomfortable in her seats for the past 10mins since the lessons began and this was very irritating for him.
He slightly looked under the desk, checking on her leaping foot and noticed that it was gradually swelling up. "Hey," he nudged her. "You should go to the infirmary and get your foot checked. You keep groaning uncomfortably." He whispered.
Phidelia thought of the possibility of being questioned on how it happened and so on and so forth so she hesitated. "No Rowan, I'm okay." she assured and went on with jotting some notes down. Rowan found this attitude of hers so annoying and couldn't resist escalating.
"This is so–annoying Delia." He thumped the table with his hand as he dropped the pen, making Phidelia jolt up slightly in fright. "Excuse me Mrs. Houston." He raised his hand, drawing the whole class attention.
"Yes–Rowan?" She paused what she was writing on the board and turned her gaze to Rowan. "What are you doing Rowan?" Phidelia whispered, holding his hand but he ignored her.
"I'm sorry Mrs. Houston but can I please send Phidelia to the infirmary? She hurt her foot this morning."
"Of course Rowan." She smiled, "You should be more careful Phidelia." she directed her gaze to Phidelia. "These little things can turn to cause a big damage if we don't treat them right, Mm..?"
"Yes ma'am." she replied with a wry smile, slightly glancing at Rowan.
"That's okay then." She stared back at Rowan. "You can go now." she gave him the go ahead and Rowan rose from his seat and helped Phidelia up. She was about to pack her books into her bag but Lilly offered to do it so they left everything aside and Rowan held her hand and helped her out of the class; leaping on one foot.
The sight of Rowan together with Phidelia walking out of the class made Tina felt so bitter that she could strangle Phidelia at the spot if she was given the opportunity to.
"Alright, let's continue with our lessons." The teacher went back to the board to continue the lesson but Tina just couldn't keep her focus. She kept stealing glances at the entrance, thinking of what next to do to Phidelia.
*****
Walking out of the class, they took the path of the corridor that leads to the infirmary with Phidelia's hand draped around Rowan's shoulder and leaping in slow paces at every step they took.
"What was that for Rowan?"
"I suppose that should be my line Delia. Look at how your foot is swelling up and you were there just making an excuse. Tell me, why are you so afraid to go to the infirmary. Huh?"
"Well, I–Um–" she clicked her tongue. Suddenly feeling incompetent as there was no explanation she could give to perfectly cover her lies. "Enough of your whining." she snubbed it off. "We're already heading to the infirmary and that's should be the end of it. Why are you such a whiner?" she teased.
Rowan chuckled and slightly shook his head. "You should worry more about yourself Delia. You're such a bad liar." He chuckled at Phidelia astonished look. "See–, I got you over there."
Phidelia stared at him and chortled, "Crazy." She slightly hit his hand, shaking her head.
"But on a serious note Delia," Rowan muttered with a deadpan look. "you should try and take good care of yourself and stop thinking about others okay?"
"Okay, okay." Phidelia smiled. "Whatever will keep me out of your bad books I will do it." She joked and they both chuckled as they rounded the corner to the infirmary. They slowly pushed the door opened, revealing a chestnut hair young lady in her mid 20s sitting behind the desk; working on some files.
"Good morning Miss Florida". Rowan uttered as he walked passed her with Phidelia to the bed.
"Good morning Rowan She stood up and followed after them. Rowan helped Phidelia sat on the bed and Miss Florida crouched down before her swollen leg, examining it. "What happened to her?" she inquired as she glanced up at Rowan who stood beside them.
"Well, I tripped the stairs". Phidelia snapped in and Miss Florida glanced at her then to her foot. "Are you sure you tripped?" She stood up, staring sceptically at her, "What kind of tripping was that? It's looks more of a force applied to your foot than a trip."
She shuffled over to the drawer to where the medicines were stored for an ointment, a pain reliever and a sleeping pill. "What's your name?" she questioned, sauntering back to them.
"I'm Phidelia but my friends call me Delia.” Phidelia replied, staring at Miss Florida as she dropped the drugs beside her.
"Nice name you have there". she handed the sleeping and pain reliever pills to her with a glass of water. "Take them, it's a pain reliever and a sleeping pill. To relieve the pains and also let you have some rest since you won't have to use your leg for the next 3hours to make it heal faster".
Phidelia nodded and took in the pills. "Good". Miss Florida took the glass of water from her and placed it on the drawer beside the bed. She took the ointment and crouched down in front of her foot. "Tell me when the pain is unbearable". she urged and Phidelia nodded. "And you Rowan," she glanced at him. "you can go back to your class".
"No Miss Florida". He hastily mumbled, "I will wait until she is done with her treatment." He sat beside Phidelia. "Okay." she shrugged, "Suite yourself." She went on to apply the ointment on Phidelia's foot. She winced from every touch and after some few minutes, they were done.
"All done." She shrugged up. "You can have some rest down." she uttered with a smile and went back to her desk.
"Here, let me help you." Rowan stood up and made the pillow well. "You can rest now." He helped her rest her head on the pillow and slowly lifted her leg on the bed too. "Thank you." Phidelia grumbled with a smile and within a twinkle of an eye, she fell asleep.
Rowan stared at her for a while and smiled, pulling the cloth over her then went to lay on the bed next to her. He laid on his side, glancing at Phidelia who was fast asleep.
The hours passed by and soon, the bell rang for lunch. Claire quickly packed her books and rushed out of her class to go find Phidelia. She hurried through the hallway to the corridors and soon got to Phidelia's class to meet her mates coming out of the class. She waited patiently outside for her but there was no sign of her. She scoffed, about to glide into the class when she saw Tina and her friends coming out. She quickly turned, hiding her face from them and they passed by her unnoticed. Just as they passed by, she shuffled into the class. At that moment, she ran into Lily. "Excuse me." she held her back. "Sorry to stop you but I'm looking for Phidelia."
"Oh, she is in the infirmary."
"Infirmary?" she queried, quiet surprised as she was perfectly fine when they were coming earlier in the morning.
"Yes, her legs were swollen so she had to visit the infirmary."
"Okay, thanks so much." she replied and rushed out, hurrying through the corridors of crowded students to the infirmary. She slammed the door opened and hurries in. "Good morning Miss Florida." she hastily mumbled, rushing passed her. Miss Florida glanced at her back, "Oh, Claire." she chuckled, slightly shaking her head and went back to what she was doing.
Rowan was up and checking on Phidelia when Claire got to Phidelia's bed. "Hey!" she uttered, pausing right behind him. Rowan turned deftly at her. "Who are you?" she questioned. Rowan chuckled, folding his arms across his chest. "Wasn't that supposed to be my question to you?" He queried his expression was blank.